Anerobic specimen transport system

Abstract

A deoxygenated, inert, oil-like fluid having an oxygen activity coefficient less than that of water may be used to provide anaerobic conditions for the transport and/or storage of anaerobic specimens.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method of maintaining a specimen of an anaerobic microbe under conditions which are substantially anaerobic and which enhance the anaerobicity of the specimen, the method comprising immersing the specimen in a water-immiscible, inert, substantially non-nutritive, sterile, deoxygenated oil-like fluid having an oxygen activity coefficient less than that of water. 
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1 wherein the specific gravity of the fluid is less than that of the specimen. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 1 wherein the fluid is a silicone oil. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 3 wherein the oil is a dimethyl silicone oil. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 3 wherein the silicone oil has a viscosity ranging from about 1 to about 30,000 centistokes. 
     
     
       6. A composite comprising an anaerobic microbe specimen immersed in a water-immiscible, inert, substantially non-nutritive, deoxygenated oil-like fluid having an oxygen activity coefficient less than that of the specimen and which enhances the anaerobicity of the specimen. 
     
     
       7. The composite of claim 6 wherein the specific gravity of the oil-like fluid is less than that of the specimen. 
     
     
       8. The composite of claim 6 wherein the fluid comprises a silicone oil. 
     
     
       9. The composite of claim 8 wherein the oil comprises a dimethyl silicone oil. 
     
     
       10. The composite of claim 8 wherein the viscosity of the oil ranges from about 1 to about 30,000 centistokes.